(Reuters) — A group of 22 states and U.S. territories Wednesday moved to block a proposed $10.3 billion settlement that would resolve claims against 3M Co. over water pollution tied to “forever chemicals,” claiming the deal fails to adequately hold the company accountable.
The group, led by California and including Texas, New York and the District of Columbia, filed a motion opposing approval of the settlement in a South Carolina federal court, where thousands of lawsuits against 3M and other companies over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are being fought.
The proposed deal would provide funds over a 13-year period to test for and treat contamination of PFAS. But the states said it isn’t enough to account for the damage caused by the chemicals, which are used in a wide range of products from firefighting foam to non-stick cookware and cosmetics and have been linked to cancers, hormonal dysfunction and environmental damage.
A 3M spokesperson said in a statement that the deal provides funding for remediation and testing without the need for future litigation on the matter, and it isn’t unusual for there to be objections to significant settlements. The spokesperson said the company would continue to “work cooperatively” to address questions about the deal.
The states said the deal, announced June 22, would require public water systems across the United States to decide whether to opt in to the settlement before knowing how much they would receive, and in some cases before they are aware of their contamination levels and the costs associated with remediation.
